Heavy rains can't drown out Fashion Week festivities

Tribune-Review - A model struts the runway in an ensemble from Tanger Outlets at last year's Pink Partini & Fashion Bash. Set for Sept. 26 this year, the Washington County event again benefits the American Cancer Society.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review - Christina Dickerson, publicist of Pittsburgh Fashion Week, and Dottie McAllise, business manager of Pittsburgh Fashion Week, laugh and applaud during the Pink Partini & Fashion Bash at Tanger Outlets, where the fourth night of events for Pittsburgh Fashion Week continued on Thursday, September 27, 2012 in Washington. Proceeds from the event went to the Washington County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, with guests treated to mini massages, cocktails, a silent auction and other prizes.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review - Miyoshi Anderson, founder and executive director of Pittsburgh Fashion Week, introduces the Pink Partini & Fashion Bash at Tanger Outlets, where the fourth night of events for Pittsburgh Fashion Week continued on Thursday, September 27, 2012 in Washington. Proceeds from the event went to the Washington County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, with guests treated to mini massages, cocktails, a silent auction and other prizes.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review - Breast cancer survivor, mom, and model-for-the-night Lisa Klenosheck, 44, of Cranberry, tells her story of her journey through breast cancer during the Pink Partini & Fashion Bash at Tanger Outlets on Thursday, September 27, 2012 in Washington. The fourth night of events for Pittsburgh Fashion Week, proceeds from the event went to the Washington County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, with guests treated to mini massages, cocktails, a silent auction and other prizes.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review - Breast cancer survivor, mom, and model-for-the-night Lisa Klenosheck, 44, of Cranberry, walks the runway during the Pink Partini & Fashion Bash at Tanger Outlets on Thursday, September 27, 2012 in Washington. The fourth night of events for Pittsburgh Fashion Week, proceeds from the event went to the Washington County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, with guests treated to mini massages, cocktails, a silent auction and other prizes.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review - A model poses on the runway in an outfit from Tanger Outlets, where the fourth night of events for Pittsburgh Fashion Week continued with the Pink Partini & Fashion Bash on Thursday, September 27, 2012 in Washington. Proceeds from the event went to the Washington County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, with guests treated to mini massages, cocktails, a silent auction and other prizes.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review - A model poses on the runway in an outfit with a pop of pink from Tanger Outlets, where the fourth night of events for Pittsburgh Fashion Week continued with the Pink Partini & Fashion Bash on Thursday, September 27, 2012 in Washington. Proceeds from the event went to the Washington County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, with guests treated to mini massages, cocktails, a silent auction and other prizes.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review - A member of the audience takes a photo of a model strutting the runway during the Pink Partini & Fashion Bash at Tanger Outlets on Thursday, September 27, 2012 in Washington. The fourth night of events for Pittsburgh Fashion Week, proceeds from the event went to the Washington County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, with guests treated to mini massages, cocktails, a silent auction and other prizes.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review - Miyoshi Anderson, founder and executive director of Pittsburgh Fashion Week, watches the Pink Partini & Fashion Bash at Tanger Outlets from behind the catwalk, where the fourth night of events for Pittsburgh Fashion Week continued on Thursday, September 27, 2012 in Washington. Proceeds from the event went to the Washington County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, with guests treated to mini massages, cocktails, a silent auction and other prizes.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review - The silhouette of a member of the audience shows between the raindrops on the tent at the Pink Partini & Fashion Bash at Tanger Outlets on Thursday, September 27, 2012 in Washington. A night of rain did not keep a full house from assembling for the fourth night of events at Pittsburgh Fashion Week.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review - A model waits backstage at the Pink Partini & Fashion Bash at Tanger Outlets, where the fourth night of events for Pittsburgh Fashion Week continued on Thursday, September 27, 2012 in Washington. Proceeds from the event went to the Washington County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, with guests treated to mini massages, cocktails, a silent auction and other prizes.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review - DJ Christ Hartnett, 22, of Monroevill, keeps the music pumping in the tent at the Pink Partini & Fashion Bash at Tanger Outlets on Thursday, September 27, 2012 in Washington. A night of rain did not keep a full house from assembling for the fourth night of events at Pittsburgh Fashion Week.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review - A model is seen strutting the runway under the tent at the Pink Partini & Fashion Bash at Tanger Outlets on Thursday, September 27, 2012 in Washington, while fashion guru LaMont Jones narrates the show. A night of rain did not keep a full house from assembling for the fourth night of events at Pittsburgh Fashion Week.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review - A model struts in high heels on the runway in shoes from Tanger Outlets, where the fourth night of events for Pittsburgh Fashion Week continued with the Pink Partini & Fashion Bash on Thursday, September 27, 2012 in Washington. Proceeds from the event went to the Washington County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, with guests treated to mini massages, cocktails, a silent auction and other prizes.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review - A model poses on the runway in an ensemble from Tanger Outlets, where the fourth night of events for Pittsburgh Fashion Week continued with the Pink Partini & Fashion Bash on Thursday, September 27, 2012 in Washington. Proceeds from the event went to the Washington County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, with guests treated to mini massages, cocktails, a silent auction and other prizes.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review - A crew of fashionistas poses for a photo booth picture at the Pink Partini & Fashion Bash on Thursday, September 27, 2012 in Washington, the fourth night of events from Pittsburgh Fashion Week. Proceeds from the event went to the Washington County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, with guests treated to mini massages, cocktails, a silent auction and other prizes.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review - The shadow of a model makes its way across the runway backdrop at the Pink Partini & Fashion Bash on Thursday, September 27, 2012 in Washington, the fourth night of events from Pittsburgh Fashion Week. Proceeds from the event went to the Washington County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, with guests treated to mini massages, cocktails, a silent auction and other prizes.

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After making a few setup changes, organizers of Thursday's Pink Partini & Fashion Bash were ready to go.

“I was really worried,” said Jodi Dague, general manager of Tanger Outlets in Washington, whose feet were still soaked after the two-hour event. “It was raining so hard earlier and the wind was so bad some of the tents were blowing off the ground. But at least the rain stopped and we had to go to Plan B. It made things a little cozier, but in the end it all worked out. Sometimes you have to adjust.”

The 200-plus standing room only crowd didn't let the rain keep them from coming to see chic models – some cancer survivors and some family members as well as fashion week models – walk the catwalk down a pink carpeted runway.

Proceeds benefitted the American Cancer Society of Washington County.

Model Lisa Klenoshek of Cranberry addressed the crowd and told her story of being diagnosed with breast cancer at age 41. Minutes later she walked down the runway in outfits from Talbots.

“My talk sounded much better when I said it in my kitchen,” Klenoshek said. “I felt like a downer talking about chemotherapy and radiation. As for the modeling experience, I am not sure I would model again, though. I have a new respect for models. It is not easy work, especially when the floor is a river.

“But it is hard for me to stay no to the cancer society, because I want to pay it forward and to give back,” she said

"Models such as Lisa are wonderful because not only did she look great in the clothes, she shared her story of being a survivor. I admire that, because that is not easy to do,” said Miyoshi Anderson, executive director of Pittsburgh Fashion Week.

“I love that we have brought Pittsburgh Fashion Week out to Washington County,” said Anderson. “We are branching out and more and more people will know about fashion week, because fashion is not just in the city. Fashion is all around us.”

A pair of pink cleats, autographed by Steelers tight end Heath Miller, was auctioned for $175 for the left show and $150 for the right.

“I think some of the rain might have kept some people away, but I feel like we raised a lot of money for the American Cancer Society and that is so important,” Dague said. “That is why we were here. I also think everyone enjoyed the fashions, because you get some ideas on how to put the entire outfit together.”

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at jharrop@tribweb.com or 412-320-7889.

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